ACT Formal Statement – March 30, 2017

In light of recent events, the Atheist Community of Tulsa would like to formally condemn the actions and intentions of Ron Robinson, a Reverend in Turley, Oklahoma. We have learned of his arrest and of the reports from the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office within the last hour.

Our organization supports many local charity efforts as part of our goal to promote positive secularism and to advance humanistic principles that go beyond all belief systems, such as compassion, support, generosity, acceptance, and caring for all those around us.

Our Board of Directors had chosen earlier this month to allocate the resources from our March 2017 food and clothing drive to Ron’s volunteer charity organization in Turley after learning of the recent fire that destroyed many parts of the building. We were saddened to hear of such a loss for a charity which provides nutritious food to hundreds of people in need every week.

However, in light of these recent events, we have decided instead to donate our resources again to the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma. As much as the Turley charity, A Welcome Table, is a much-appreciated charity, we simply cannot support the organization until Ron is distanced from it.

We are all shocked and appalled by these allegations, as well as the reports of admission beyond them. Our children are our future and should be protected at all costs. We support our local and federal law enforcement, and we are grateful to them for the extremely difficult work they are tasked to do.

The Atheist Community of Tulsa would like to encourage our members and our local community to be a light in such dark times. Together, we can heal these wounds and make this world a safer place.